Nadolig Llawen!

Christmas Eve shadows on the prom looking out to sea (after a day of preparing for the Christmas 'feast').

Christmas Day - cooking too much, eating too much, and washing up too much!

But still lovely to enjoy the day with family.

Then time to relax by the fire - with a glass of wine, and a special 'Christmas tree' from Martin - lovingly made from his used hankie!

Hope your day was just as full of good food, good company, and Christmas spirit (of whatever kind!).

Merry Christmas!

Project Home Automation

For the last month or so Martin has been working on various elements of home automation . . .  from Wi-Fi plugs that switch appliances on and off (e.g. my Christmas Bling!), to Zigbee lights linked to motion detectors, which come on as we move from room to room, and remote sensors for temperature, humidity and the oil tank level.

We've now also got a new heating controller, and automatic valves on most of the radiators, to regulate the temperature in each room.  All controlled via the Google Assistant and Drayton apps, and which mostly work well.  

Just have to remember which lights I actually have to switch on myself!!

Time To Be Civilised

After 25 years together we thought that maybe it was time to do something about making it official.

So today we registered our civil partnership, which means our relationship now has legal recognition, and we're officially each other's next of kin with all that entails - unfortunately a consideration as we get older!

No big party  - the registrar said the necessary words, we signed the document, and went for lunch in Wetherspoons!

It's Christmas!

Well, it is December at least.

It may not quite be Christmas yet - but it doesn't seem inappropriate now to break out the decorations, and get the tree up.

Need to make the most of my Christmas Bling Time!